A man, who stabbed his partner 177 times with a kitchen knife in a frenzied attack at her home in Saundersfoot, will serve a minimum of 17 years in prison for murder.

Thirty-six-year-old Arthur Pitt-Pladdy murdered mother-of-three Kim Butler in the flat they shared at Pennant Avenue, Saundersfoot, in the early hours of August 13, 2008.

Mr. Pitt-Pladdy, originally from London, had moved to Saundersfoot and moved in with 44-year-old Ms Butler shortly after his release from prison several months before the murder.

He was jailed for life at Swansea Crown Court this week after his conviction for murder.

Mr. Pitt-Pladdy, a self-confessed chronic alcoholic and heroin addict, had been drinking extra-strong lager and taking drugs all day before he murdered Ms Butler.

Ms Butler sustained 177 stab wounds in the brutal attack, before Mr. Pitt-Pladdy dialled 999 from a telephone box and confessed to the operator.

During the trial, his barrister told the court he suffered from alcohol dependency, but a psychiatrist told the jury he had not been suffering from an abnormality of mind when he stabbed Ms Butler.

Passing sentence on Wednesday, Mr. Justice Lloyd Jones said he was anxious that it was made clear that the sentence represented the minimum term that Mr. Pitt-Pladdy would serve in prison.

He said that, after that period, he would be eligible for parole, but whether or not he would be released would depend on the authorities' view.

"You have taken a life and you have done so in the most brutal manner," said Mr. Justice Lloyd Jones when passing sentence.

"There is no doubt that you intended to kill her and I accept that this killing was not premeditated. This was a case of murder committed by a man in a drunken rage.

"Your actions ought to shame you and haunt you for the rest of your life," he continued.

Speaking afterwards, DCI Pam Kelly said: "Dyfed Powys Police are pleased with today's sentence and hope it in someway helps Kim's family and friends come to terms with her tragic death.

"During the court case it became clear that Kim had concerns for her safety and lived in fear of Pitt Pladdy.

"We as a police service know how difficult it can be for victims of domestic abuse to seek help.

"However, we would like to reassure people that Dyfed Powys Police has specially trained officers in place to deal with domestic abuse victims and offenders and encourage anyone who has concerns for their own safety or that of family and friends to contact us," added DCI Kelly.